Treatment of cellulose materials



Oct. 27, 1931. A. THIRIET TREATMENT OF CBLLUL O SE MATERIALS Filed March 17, 1931 will QHIW v W, (funk-W Patented Oct. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mm mm, crave-n, rnancu, assmiron r rmrums savanna, or LYON,

reason, a Lnnran Luann! conrm 'rnn amm or cannunosn mmnms Application fled larch 17,1881, Serial Io. 588,228, and in France February 16, 1928.

m Purification of wood-pulp, anltlli in some in-' stances of ve table fibers, therto been accomplishe by treating the material with a liquor comprising sodium hydroxide "solution, but with the available processes a; prod- '0 not containing as much as 94 or 95 r cent pure cellulose is recovered only with fliculty, and in most cases, especially in the instance of vegetable materials other than wood-p111 a considerably less pure product is obtame 85 The product, furthermore, ofteneontains im-' purities which give it a dark color, and hence further treatmentand extensive bleaching is necessary. t y o y In addition, the rior methods havefre- 80 quentlynecessitate the'use not only of disadvantageously high temperatures of the nature of 150 C. or more, but also of pressures several times atmospheric, usually inconvenient and expensive to maintain in the vessels or chambers where the pulp is treated. Accordingly, the present invention includes among its principal ob'ects,ithe objects of providing a process an apparatus as well, for the treatment of cellulose, in which any or all of the recited disadvantages and inconveniences of prior methods may be obviated or materially reduced. It is a; highly important object of the invention, likewise, to provide agnethod of purifying cellulose which will yielda product of remarkably superior purity; and it is a further object to provide a method in which the montage; of desirable cellulose recovered rom a given quantity of pulp or other crude material is and in part kc, for the extraction of celluloseconsiderably higher than heretofore. To

these ends andsuch others aswill hereinafter appear or are incident thereto, the invention comlperlises the novel features hereinafter deson wise, im pasugities soluble therein. Im urities of that c are various in nature, an among others may comprise so-called incrusting ma- I terials, as found-for example in industrial wastes, plants, and other vegetable substances or may be the impurities commonly styled betaand amma-cellulose as found in wood pulp and t 0 like, from which last the product sought to be recovered is usually alpha-cellulose. Such incrusting substances, often comprising to per cent of the crude material, may include, for instance, pectine, mucine, ligniu, suberin and the like com monly associated with the essential celluloses inxthe form of cellulosi'e com ounds, Im-

urities of the various classes escribed may dissolved by the'alkali li nor, the action being chiefl of the nature 0 hydrolysis accompanied y decomposition or transformtion into a soluble compound comprising a reaction product of the active ingredient of the liquor; for convenience, then, such imp puritiesmay be included in the term alkali soluble materials. Among other substances to be removed by this or other steps of the invention there may also be mentioned sim 1e carbohydrates, albuminoids, glueoids, al aloids, and the like, and mineral matter, one or more of which may often occur in small proportions in various cellulose-bearing crudes. An alkali liquor suitable for the treatment described ay advantageously comprise a water so tion of an alkali, metal compound having a basic reaction in such solution and amon such com not 05 sodium carbonate may advantageously be em loyed. y

ention has already been made of earlier processes wherein it has been sought to purify wood-pulp and the like bylmeans of a sodium unds it has been found that i y sodium ydroxide but in lieu thereof after a certain amount of alkali-soluble material has been dissolved in, for instance, a sodium hydroxide solution, the dissolving of afresh quantity of such material is resisted, apparently because an equilibrium becomes established between the dissolved and undisqsolved material; consequently, for example,

lose product the customary method of treating crude pul and the like with fresh sodium hydroxi e solution at a given temperature does not effect a complete or eflicient purification. To overcome this equilibrium, it has hitherto been proposed to carry out the treatment with greater eat, at temperatures well above 100 (3., such as 130C. or more. At such temperatures, however, sodium hydroxide attacks the essential pure cellulose itself very readily, hydrolyzing and decomposing it along with the undesired alkali-soluble impurities, even in NaOH solutions of low concentration. At 130 0., for instance, a 2 per cent solution of NaOH will dissolve over per cent of cellulose within a few hours, while the same cellulose can remain for several days in the presenceof a 2 r cent solution at 80 0. without ap reclable decrease in weight. Consequent y, when for example a batch of fibrous vegetable sub stance is treated with a fresh, concentrated, and very hot solution of sodium hydroxide,

the outer cellulose fibers are soon attacked,

withthe result of a loss of useful cellulose and a waste, by unnecessary reaction, of the sodium hydroxide. Moreover, the treating solution rapidly assumes a dark color because of the various organic substances dissolved therein, becoming especially. black at the higher temperatures and in thepresence of dissolve or ydrolyzed cellulose. The cellureceives an undesirable dark coloration thereby, as it is imp with the black solution, and much trouble has been encountered in cleaning and bleaching thecellulose .treatedmateriilitself; and since these insoluble compounds are not by hydroxide the latter fails to dissolve or remove the class of impurities referred to.

- Moreover, there certain impurifer instance in various vegeties, table substances, which are soluble in water and which when so disolved react with and employed have their active in of such treatment inevitablyythose of cal-.

waterusedinthe step comprising treatment with an alkali liquor as hereinabove mentioned may advantageously be carried out by treating a given batch of crude cellulose-bearirlilga material with successive uantities of a li liquor, each quantity di ering from the preceding quantity in that it contains a greater proportion of the active alkali-metal compound and is charged with a less proportion of impurities dissolved out of previous batches of crude material which it has been used for treating. Thus the first quantities of liquor I dient more ess spent by previous use, ut they serve to initiate hydro ysis and removal of alkalisoluble impurities, and particularly to ex tract such water-soluble im. urities as are present, the latter being disso' v'ed even after complete neutralization of the alkali liquor. The succeeding liquors then serve to remove gradually the alkali-soluble imv urities, and

,the final quantity may be a free clear solution of the active alkali-metal compound, to

accomplish removal of the last traces of alkali-soluble substances. By so using successive quantities of liquor, the treatment me be carried out at temperaturessubstanti y lower than those of prior methods, and without the introduction of inconvenient high pressures as hitherto that and other reasons, including the fact that the alkali liquor maybe of relatively low concentration, even at the last, of essential pure avoided. A productof remarkable whiteness and purity results thong, and not only is no more ofthe acfive '-liquor ingredientused up than but owing to the greater concentration of e black liquors the recuperation thereof is more 6001101111 cally efl'ected. This recu ration involves in general a calcination an su uent causticat on of the solid ingredient o the liquor; the process being even more sim le in the case of sodium carbonate liquor, since there is no caustilication needed.

required. Forcelluloseisingreatmeasure" Inordertofurtherenhancethe uri and' light color of the cellulose u the treatment may advantag'eo y be carried out in the absence of alkaline-earth salts, as for example by using only alkali liquors from which such salts have been removed,

so that dissolving of impurities is unim peded and no undesirable substances are precipitated out of solution. A final operation of crude materia of this step of the invention may comprise washing t e purified cellulose with clear water,-which may also to advantage be freed of alkaline-earth salts,whereby all remaining traces of alkali-liquor and accompanying alkali-soluble impurities are removed.

The method of carrying out the alkali liquor step by treating the crude material with successively purer quantities of liquor may be practiced, in a manner desirable for commercial purposes, for instance, by treating simultaneously a plurality of batches of material in as many vats or tanks. These vats can conveniently be arranged in what may be figuratively styled an annular series, liquor being transferred from vat to vat as if the vats were arran ed in the form of a ring. Thus, for examp e, at any given time the material in the several vats Wlll be undergoing all st .es of purification: a vat for instance, whic has just been charged with crude material, is receiving treatment with liquor which has assed through all the other vats, while in t e next followin vat material which has undergone all 0% the purifyin stages (with a succession of liquors t at have passed through a number of vats successively varying from all to one) is receiving treatment with fresh, clear liqluor (Wl'llCh then will pass through all ot er vats in the manner stated) prior to withdrawal as pure cellulose, or washing if desired. The several vats can thus .be successivel" emptied and recharged with material serially about the ring, the succession of such operations in the vats following the same direction as the transfer of liquor,- which, as will now be understood, always passes from a vat of thoroughly purified material through all other vats in succession to a vat which has gust received a new charge One form of apparatus satisfactory for carryin out the alkali liquor step according to this continuous process is shown in the accompanying drawing and will be hereinafter described.

The process of the invention may comprise other steps than the alkali liquor treatment hereinabove described, among which may be included if desired a physical purification. The latter may advantageously be carried out before the alkali li uor step or other chemical treatment, and its object is to remove, in satisfactory manner, certain impurities physically adherent to the fibers of the crude material, and thus in many cases to avoid contaminating or impeding a succeeding chemical treatment with such impurities. These impurities, for example, may include, notably in the case of wood pulps such as sulfite pulps or others, three classes of substances: (0) the divergent layers or medullary rays, ve rich in lingnin; (b) waste fibers, comprising more or less spoilt cellulose, and unfit for some commercial uses such as the preparation of cellulose others; (0) particles of various materials,

such as silica, calcium resinate, neutral sulfite of lime, hydroxide of iron, and the like, which adhere very tightly to the fibers. This physical urification may be conveniently accomplis ed by subjecting the pulp or other crude material, prevlously put m suspension in water, to water jets of sufficient velocity to dislodge and carry off the minute particles of impurities and short fibers which comprise substances of the nature described.

An apparatus suitable for this treatment may comprise, for example: (1) an inclined wire gauze upon which the diluted pulp or other crude material is continuously poured; (2) one or more streams or jets of water that run through the pulp and carry oil the solid particles and the like, the velocity of the water being so regulated as to exert on the articles a pressure greater in value than the orces of attraction existing between the fibers sought to be purified and the particles.

Following this treatment the ulp or other material may then if desired be rought to a concentration of from 4 to 6 percent, suitable for an alkali liquor purification or such other chemical treatment as may thereafter be carried out.

Another step in the process of the invention may comprise the elimination of alkaline-earth salts contained in the cellulose, and whereas the earlier sta s of an-alkali li uor treatment in a manner ereinabove described may serve satisfactoril to remove such substances, they ma a vantageously be removed, for examp e, by preliminarily washing the pul or other material with water free from al aline-earth salts.

Other steps in the process, which ma in some instances be found desirable and w ich may conveniently be erformed after the pulp or other material as received an alkali iquor treatment, include bleaching with a suitable oxidizing agent as where the material is of an especially elimination of such mineral salts as may be carried by the cellulose, the latter operation being effected by the action of an acid solution wherein the pH is such as to reduce as much as possible the adsorption of the mineral salts by the cellulose.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing illustrating diagrammatically one form of apparatus suitable for carrying out the alkali liquor step of the invention, there are shown a lurality of sections of apparatus, A, B, C, B, E and F, each comprising a vat dark color, and final or tank with accompanying tubes, valves, outlets. etc., as hereinafter described.

Each section includes a cylindrical vat 1, capable of containing a batch of ulp or other crude material to be treated. mm the bottom of the vat leads a tube 2 extending vertihas just been completed, receives through cally upward to a level near the top of the vat, where the latter may be open to the atmosphere, said tube bein rovided with a draining sluice valve 3. e vat 1 is fitted with a perforated false bottom 4 that pre vents the fibers of treated material from passing throu h, thus permitting only the li uid in which t e material is in suspension to ter through. Above this perforated bottom is a plug 5 for blowing out the pulp or other material. A pump 6 is provided for the circulation of alkali liquor and the like through the apparatus. It sucks the alkali li nor from tube 2 above a certain point 7 w ich determines in the vat the lowest level below which the liquor can not drop, and delivers it to a heater 8 so regulated as to maintain constant the temperature of the circulated liquor. At the outlet from said heater is a selectin device 9 which rmits, without any risk 0 the fluids becoming mixed, the liquor to be led either into discharge piping 10 (if it is exhausted or spent), or into iping 11 which leads it into the vat where rom it came so as to obtain a closed circulation), or into t e next vat by way of wiping 12. On the drawing, a simple valve as been indicated on each conduit, but multiple-way valves might obviously and advantageously be utilized for this service. In piping 12 is provided an overflow 13 which insures the return of any excess of liquor to the vat wherefrom it came, in such manner as to thereby determine for the next vat an upper level which the liquid therein must not exceed. 7

It will be apparent therefore that, due to the arrangement of the piping system and its fixtures, the level of the liquor is stabilized in all the vats. Furthermore, it will now be seen that the set of apparatus may at a given time assume either one of the two following conditions:

I. One of the vats, such as A, which has previously been emptied, is being charged with pulp or other material to be treated; while the next vat B, the pulp of which has been completely treated and washed, is being emptied, and in the succeeding vat C the pul which has been entirely treated is being was ed with ordinary water. All the other vats, such as D, E, F, are being treated and have their liquor circulating in a close circuit.

II. A vat such as D, the treatment of which piping 14 a supply of water free from alkaline-earth salts in order to carry out the pulpwashing. operation similar to that just completed 1n vat C. This purified water displaces an ual amount of diluted liquor which is sent y the pump into the next vat' E. This second vat E contains" pulp that has to undergo the last part of the treatment; said vat receiving, therefore, the last-mentioned diluted liquor and, through piping 15, a quantity of fresh liquor accurately measured as hereinafter stated and corresponding to the amount required for treating the weight of pulp that is being purified. The liquor so displaced in this vat E by the diluted liquor and the fresh liquor is forced by the circulating pump of said vat through pi ing 12 into the next vat F, and so on through such other vats, not shown, as may be placed in the series. All such other vats, together with their pumps, are simultaneously put in the same position, and the successively displaced liquors, which are circulated from one vat to the next one, become more and more charged with alkali-soluble substances and the like. Finally, the last vat A, which has just been charged with fresh pulp, may receive through piping 14 purified water for a preliminary washin while the liquor withdrawn by the pump rom the preceding vat (here vat F, other intermediate vats not being shown) is discharged through iping 10. This latter liquor has run throng the whole cycle of vats and is considered as exhausted.

The pulp is charged into the vats where it may conveniently reach a concentration of from 5 to 7 per cent, this concentration being kept constant throughout the treatment. As the liquor in which the pulp is sus ended is moving downwards, it tends to lea the pulp to the bottom of the vat and, consequently, a layer of liquid free from fibers is formed in the up or part, which helps the treatment to be e ectly uniform, as no pulp can stay out o the circulating liquid.

Due to the action of the heaters, the cirsculated liquors are heated up to a temperature which may be maintained as constant as desired. This tem erature may conveniently be less than 100 if it. is desired to carry out the operations under atmospheric ressure, and may. lie withinvarlous a vantageous ranges, depending on the material treated and the nature of the liquor. Using, for instance, a 4 per cent solution of sodium hydroxide, a temperature of to 80 C. is desirable for sulfite pulp; 70 to 95 C. for slightly li nified vegetabe substances, such as straw, panish grass, etc., and slightly higher temperatures forlcertain other substances, as woods in on nt use. Soda pulp may be efliciently treated with a cold concentrated solutiqn of sodium hydroxide (about a 10 per cent solution) and in that case the heaters 8 may be dispensed with. Ifsodium carbonate is used, for example in about an 8 per cent solution, the various ma terials may advantageously be treated at tem ratures between 90 and 100 C.

e exhausted liquors that are discharged contain rehoverable matters and an amount -of heat which can be utilized for li uor preparation. These li uors are collecte in a collector piping to w ich the several pi s 10 lead; and once the alkaline treatment as scram 8 been completed, washing'ls are eifected according to the same liquid 'splacement method. In practice, a volume of water erpllal only to once and a half the capacity of t e vat concerned has to be introduced in order to insure a complete washing of material.

The number of vats under treatment may vary as desired, but in general may be determined, on the one hand, by the time which is required for complete removal of alkalisoluble impgrities from the pulp (the treatment may considered as completed within 45-50 hours for sodium hydroxide liquor and about hours for sodium carbonate liquor), and, on the other hand, by the time required for charging and for emptying one vat, which time determines the period durin which the vats are placed in accordance wi the above-described arrangement I. In fact, the vat that has just been charged with unpurified pulp is ready for emptying only after all the li uors from the other vats have been circulate through its own pulp contents, each successiye liquor being less charged than the next previous one with dissolved substances, and the last one being a fresh liquor.

Each of the vats of the plant is thus in turn readyofor emptyingand for fresh charging, the a ve conditions I and II alternatmg without cessation. The feeding or charging of the vats is effected through pipes 16 or other feeding apparatus which may take the pulp or other material from the concentrating screens located, for instance, at the outlet of a physical purifying apparatus if such is used, while-emptying is efiected through pin -holes 5 by means of a pressure water jet. he purified pul carried along is collected in a collector, w ence it is sent to apparatus for use or succeeding treatment as desired.

It will be seen that the treating vats or tanks thus constitute an annular series appropriate for the process, the transfer of iquor from vat to vat taking place as if the vats were arranged in the form of a ring and the emptying and recharging of the successive vats taking place in the same manner. Thus, if the vat A in the drawing has just been charged, the next vat to be emptied will be vat B, followed by vat C then vat D, and so on, and finally vat A will be emptied again and recharged. In the meantime the separate batches or lots of material in the vats are being treated with the liquors which have been transferred from one vat-to the next. The preparation of liquors and waters necessary for the abovedescribed process may be efiected with the following apparatus, also diagrammatically shown in the drawing:

1. A series of decantin troughs 20 for purifying the water. The a kaline-earth salts in the latter are precipitated hot or cold by means of a very small quantity of caustic soda; in the case a hot precipitation is preferred, said troughs may be heated by steam coils 21 supplie with steam by plpes 80, which last may also lead to the heaters 8.

2. A distributin trough 23 for purified water which troug? may receive water, decanted from troug s 20, through piping 22. A distributing device 24, whose rate of flow can be regulated, delivers the water to the several vats as desired through piping 14.

3. A distributing trough 25 for alkali liquor, which trough receives, through piping 22, purified water and the predetermined weight of suitable alkali-metal compound corresponding to the volume of the tron h,

so as to obtain solutions comprising, or instance, the stren hs hereinabove mentioned. Another distributing device 26 is mechanically cou led with the preceding distributor 24 an supplies to conduits 15, with all the required accuracy, the volume of alkali liquor corresponding to the wei ht' of pul to etreated. In using sodium droxi e, for instance, the amount of t e latter so introduced ma convenientl be from 4 to 12 per cent of lhe weight.o material such as sulfite pulp, or u to about 20 per cent for other vegetable su nces. In employing sodium carbonate, it has been found that the Na,CO, consumption ma be about 1-6 to 25 er cent of the'weight o the material treated If it is desired to employ the bleaching step hereinabove described, as for example in the case of wood ulp and the like, a bleaching lant suitablie to receive the pulp after its a ali liquor treatment may be composed of vertical vats having a volume slightayhgreater than that of the alkali liquor vats.

e inner lining or the constituent material of the bleaching vats may be so selected as to withstand, without being attacked, the

action of the bleachin solution and the action of the liquor use for such subsequent acid treatment as may be employed, if-any; and said vats are also provi ed with a erforated false bottom, with a blow-out p ug, and with a circulating pump that collects the liquor that has filtered th ough the saidperforated bottom and deli ers it again to the upper part of the vat. The pulp therein may have an average concentration of from 4 to 6 per cent.

Through suitablepiping, a bleaching solution containing, for instance, calcium hypochloriteto the amount of 1 to 3 per cent of the weight of the pulp, in the case of sulphite or soda pulp, and of 13 to 18 per cent of the weight oflthe pulp in the case of vegetable substances, is introduced thereinto. The bleaching action is also fostered by the liquor being circulated, and it may last for from i to 6 hours. In order to avoid any alteration of the fibers under treatment this operationmay advantageously be performed at a temperature not exceed 30 C. The bleaching etc may be fo owed by a very thorough was with ordinary water by displacement. mally, if desired, an acid treatment ste may be pursued as mentioned hereinabove, or the removal of mineral salts which have been fixed by adsorption on the fibers of cellulose. The treatment may be conveniently carried out, in the same vat as the bleaching, b circulating for example, a 0.1 per cent sul furic acid so ution through the material for about an hour. After further washing the purification of cellulose is complet and the batch of material may then be dir y used for any desired purpose.

In the special case of soda pulp, itjs advan us in some cases toprecede the alkali liquor treatment with an oxidation step. In such case, the cellulose which, after hysical purification, has a concentration 0 from 4 to 6 per cent, is oxidized by means of, for instance, a solution of calcium hypochlorite. This operation does not essentially difier from already known cellulose bleaching procbut it should be carried out, however, in such a way that the bleaching will be quite homogeneous.

The amount of active oxygen used should be so calculated as to obtain total oxidizin of the lignin; for instance, 10 per cent 0 calcium h orite should be used for ordinary a ul After oxidizing, the cellulose is w e and then dried to a concentration of from 300 to 400 grams per liter, by means of an suitable device in common practice (cylin or; mold, screw ress, rotary strainer, etc). Both the oxidizing) and the washing are efiected in ordinary leaching .ap aratus. The soda pulp may then be reuted with water or nt alkali liquor and treated according to t e alkali liquor step as above described.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific rocedures and apparatus herein described, at can be carried out in other ways without departure from its spirit as defined the following claims.

What is claimed is:

L of purifying cellulose-bearing material, comprising treating the material with. alkali liquors free from alkaline-earth salts whereby the dissolving of the impurities is unimpeded by the presence of such salts and the impurities when dissolved are retained in solution.

2. Process of purifying cellulose-bearing material comprisinggereatmg' the material with alkali liquors from alkaline-earth salts whereby the dissolving of impurities is unimpeded by the presence of such salts and the impurities when dissolved are retained in solution, treating the material with dilute acid to dissolve mineral compounds which remained fixed on the cellulose after the treatment with alkali liquor and thereafter washing the material to eliminate the dissolved mineral compounds.

3. Process of purifying cellulose-bearin material, comprising washing the materia with water which is free from alkaline-earth salts, and thereafter treating the material with alkali liquor which is free from alkaline- :prth salts for the removal of soluble impuri- 4. Process of purifying cellulose-bearing pulp, comprisin subjecting the pulp to water jets of sufficient velocity to dislodge and carry off minute adherent particles of imurities and short fibers, thereafter treatr mg the ulp with alkali liquor which is free from al aline-earth salts for the removal of soluble impurities.

5. Process of purifying cellulose-bearing pulp, comprising subjecting the pulp to water jets of suflicient velocity to dislodge and carry ofi minute articles of impurities and short fibers, wasliing the pulp with water which is free from alkaline-earth salts, and thereafter treating the pulp with alkali liquor' which is free from al aline-earth salts for the removal of soluble impurities.

6. Processof purifying cellulose-bearing pulp, com rising subjecting the pulp to water jets o sufiicient velocity to dislodge and carry ofi minute articles of impurities and short fibers, and thereafter washln the pulp wilth water which is free from alka inc-earth sa ts.

'7. In a process of purifyin cellulose-bearing pulp, subjecting the (pu p to water jets of suflicient velocity to islodge and carry ofi minute adherent particles of impurities and short fibers.

8. In a process as described in claim 7, in which the pulp is subjected to jets of water of suflicient velocity to dislodge and carry oil minute adherent particles of impurities and short fibers, by passin the pulp in the form of a layer or sheet un er the water jets, which latter are directed downwardly into the flowing layer of pulp from above.

9. Process of purifying cellulose-bearing ulp, com rising subjecting the pulp to water jets of su cient velocity to dislodge and car- :fi oi! minute particles of impurities and ortfibers, washin the pulp with water which is free from a aline-earth salts, treating the pulp with alkali liquor which is free from alkaline-earth salts for the removal of soluble impurities, and subsequently washing the treated pulp with water which is free from alkaline-earth salts.

10. Process of treating cellulose-bearing materials, comprising subjecting the pulp to water jets 8f sufiicient velocity to dislodge and carry 01! minute adherent particles of impurities and short fibers; establishing in an annular series of vats, batches of the pulp of successively greater impurity and treatin the batches with alkali liquor free from alEaline-earth salts; transferring liquor from batchto batch in succession in the direction of lesser purity of the pulp whereby the liquor as it becomes increasingly charged with impurities acts upon batches of successively greater impurity; substituting untreated batches of material for the treated batches in succession as the treatment thereof is completed, the order of the successive substitutions being in the same direction as the transfer of liquor from batch to batch; and from time to time discharging the liquor from the treated batch of greatest impurity and supplying fresh pure liquor to the treated batch of least impurity.

11. Process of treating cellulose-bearin material, comprising washing the materia with water free from alkaline-earth salts; establishing in an annular series of vats,batches of the washed material of successively greater impurity and treating the batches of material with alkali liquor free from alkaline-earth salts; transferring the liquor froni batch to batch in succession in the direction of lessor purity whereby the liquor as it becomes increasingly charged with dissolved impurities acts upon batches of successively greater impurity; substituting untreated batches of material for the treated batches in succession as the treatment thereof is completed, the order of the successive substitutions being in the same direction as the transfer of liquor from batch to batch; and from time to time discharging the liquor from the treated batch of greatest impurity and sup lying fresh pure liquor to the treated batch 0 least impurity.

12. Process of treating cellulose material with alkali liguor adapted to dissolve impurities there rom, comprising establishing in an annular series of vats, batches of par- 'tially purified material of successively greater impurity; transferring liquor from batch to batch in succession in the direction of lesser purity whereby the liquor as it becomes increasingly charged with impurities is caused to treat batches of successively greater impurity, the treatments being carried out at a pressure not substantially greater than atmospheric; substituting untreated batches of material for thetreated batches in succession as thetreatment thereof is completed, the order of the successive substitutions being in the same direction as the transfer of liquor from batch to batch; and at the same time discharging the liquor from the treated batch of greatest impurity and supplying fresh pure liquor to the treated batch of least im urity.

13. Process of treating cellulose-bearing material, comprisin treating successive bodies or batches of t e material in se arate vats with a solution of an alkali-meta compound having a basic reaction in such solution said solution being free from alkalineearth, salts, and while retaining the batches in their respective vats transferring the solution from vat to vat in such manner that as .the batches of the material become progressively purer they are treated with progressively purer alkali-metal compound solution.

14. rocess of treating cellulose-bearing material, comprising passing successive quantities of alkali liquor at atmospheric pressure through a vat containing the material, to remove alkali-soluble impurities, the said quantities of liquor being successively less charged with impurities of such character as are removed from cellulose-bearing material by treatment with alkali liquor.

15. Process of purifying cellulose-bearing material such as wood pulp, comprising treating the material with alkali liquor comprising a solution of sodium carbonate, whereby alkali-soluble impurities are removed.

16. Process of purifying cellulose-bearing material such as wood pulp, comprising treatin the material at atmospheric pressure with alfiali liquors comprisin sodium carbonate solution to remove alkali-soluble im urities.

17. Process of purifying cellulosecaring material such as wood pulp, comprising treating the material with successive quantities of alkali liquor comprisingsodium carbonate solution to remove alkali-soluble impurities, the said quantities of li uor being successively richer in active sodium carbonate content.

18. In a process of purifying cellulosebearing material, the step of passing a quantity of alkali liquor at atmospheric pressure through a series of batches of said material to remove therefrom soluble impurities, the batches of said series being, in order, of successively decreasin purity and the liquor being passed through all of said batches in order, from the batch of that of least purity.

19. Process of purifying cellulose-bearing material such as wood pulp, comprising treatin the material, at a temperature above a out 90 C. and below about 100 (1, with successive quantities of alkali liquor comprising sodium carbonate solution to remove so uble impurities, successively richer highest purity to the said quantities being in active sodium carbonate.

100 0., said liquor comprising a solution of compound having a basic 130 an alkali-metal too ' treatment reaction in such solution, to remove alkalisoluble impurities; the said quantities o liquor bein successively richer in content of active alfiali-metal compound.

21. Process of purifying cellulose-bearing material comprising treating the material at a temperature below about 100 C. with successive quantities of alkali liquor comprising a solution of an alkali-metal compound having a basic reaction in such solution, to remove alkali-soluble impurities, the solution being free from alkaline-earth salts and the said quantities of liquor being successively richer in content of active alkali-metal compound.

22. The process of claim 21 in which the treatment with successive uantities of alkali liquor is followed by t e operation of washin the treated material with water free from a aline-earth salts.

23. The process of claim 21 in which the treatment with successive quantities of alkali liquor is followed by a bleaching operation comprising treating the cellulose material with a solution containing calcium hypochlorite, the said operation being performed at a temperature not substantially greater than30 C.

24. Apparatus for the simultaneous and regressive treatment of cellulose material in separate lots or batches of progressively different degreesof purity, comprising an annular series of vats for the batches of material, means for transferring treating liquor from vat to vat in succession under atmospheric pressure and without transfer of the material whereby as the successive batches become purer they are treated with purer and purer liquor, means at each vat for circulating the treating liquor therein during the intervals between transfers of liquor, means at cach vat for discharging spent liquor from the system,"mcans for discharging fully treated material from the vats in succession as the treatment of the successive batches is completed, and means for delivering fresh treating liquor to the vats in succession for final before discharge of thematerial.

25. Apparatus for the simultaneous and progressive treatment of cellulose material in separate lots or batches of progressively different degrees of purit comprising an annular series of vats for the batches of material, means for transferring treating liquor from vat to vat in succession under atmospheric pressure and without transfer of the material whereby as the successive batches become purer they are treated with purer and purer liquor, means, associated with said transferring means, at each vat-for circulating the treating liquor therein, means at each vat for discharging spent,v liquor from the system, means for discharging'fully treated material from the vats in succession as the f pleted,

separate lots or ferent degrees of purity,

batches is conimeans for delivering fresh treating liquor to the vats in succession for final treattreatment of the successive ment before discharge of the material, and K means for delivering untreated material to the vats in succession as they are emptied of fully treated material.

26. Apparatus for the simultaneous and progressive treatment of cellulose material in batches of progressively difcomprising an annular series of vats for the separate batches of material, a pump at each vat for withdrawing treating liquor therefrom; piping extending from vat to vat; valve means at each vat connected with the pump piping and operable to deliver to the same vat the liquor withdrawn therefrom by the pump, or to deliver the liquor to the next succeeding vat, or to discharge the liquor from the series, as desired; means for discharging fully treated material from the vats in success1on; and means at each vat for delivering fresh treating liquor thereto for the last stage of the treatment of the material as liquor is discharged from a receding vat of the series.

27. Apparatus fhr the simultaneous and progressive treatment of cellulose material in separate lots or batches of progressively different degrees of urity, comprising an annular series of vats or the separate batches of material, a pump at each vat for withdrawing treating liquor therefrom; piping extending from vat to vat; valve means at each vat connected with the pump thereat and said piping and o erable to deliver to the same vat the liquor withdrawn therefrom by the pump, or to deliver the liquor to the next succeeding vat, or to discharge the liquor from the series, as desired; means for discharging fully treated material from the vats in succession; means at each vat for delivering fresh treating liquor thereto for the last stage of the treatment of the material as liquor is discharged from the series; and means at each vat for delivering water thereto for washing the fully treated material before the discharge thereof from the vat. P

28. In an apparatus for the simultaneous and pro rial in separate lotsor batches of progressively difierent degrees of purity, an annular series of vats each having means for the discharge of fully treated material therefrom; means for d livering untreated materialto the indivi al vats in succession, means at each vat for withdrawing treating liquor therefrom, liquor-transfer piping for the series of vats, liquor-distributing means connected with the transfer piping at each vat for selectively returning liquor to the vat, delivering charging 1t from the series, the said distributing means being capable of distributing a preceding vet for gresslve treatment of cellulose mateit to the next vat in order, or disthereat and said liquor from a. vat operated at a pressure therein not substantially greater than atmospheric; and means at each vat for supplying fresh unused liquor to replace liquor discharged from the series.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my si ature.

gm ANDRE THIRIET.

signature.

ANDRE THIRIET.

DISCLAIMER 1,829,378.Amlr Thz'riet, Lyon, France. TREATMENT or CELLULosn MATERIALS. Patent dated October 27, 1931. Disclaimer filed September 9, 1932, by the assignee, Papeteries a'vmrre.

Therefore disclaims from the scope of each of claims 7 and 8 in said Letters Patent any process of purifyin cellulose-bearing pulp exceptprocesses in which the pulp travels down an inclined screen While being subjected to the water jets passing throu hthe ulp.

[0%cial azette October 4, 1932.]

DISC LAIMER 1,829 78.-Andr Thin'et, Lyon, France.

atent dated October 27, 1931. assignee, Papeteriea Narvm.

Therefore disclaims from the scqiizf each of claims 7 and 8 in said Letters Patent any process of purifyin oellulosering pulp except processes in which the pulp travels down an incline screen while bemg subjected to the water jets passing throu hthe ulp.

[ogicial Jazstte October 4, 1982.]

'IRmmmn' or Cnmrmosn MATERIALS. Disclaimsr filed September 9, 1932, by the 

